Liquid heater control



Oct 24, 1944. R, Q NEWHQUSE 2 361232 LIQUID HEATER CONTROL Filed NOV. 23, 1942 Patented Oct. 24, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENTv OFFICE LIQUID HEATER CONTROL Ray Newhouse, Wauwatosa, Wis. Application November 23, 1942, Serial No. 465,605

3 Claims.

means of superimposed temperature responsive devices or thermostats which are acted upon by upper and lower strata of the hot water in a confining zone, to operate a fuel control valve through a system of electrical connections and magnets. system is entirely practical and satisfactory in operation, it is rather complicated and cannot be used where no electricity is available for actuation of the fuel control valve; and it is far more desirable to have such a system motivated by mechanisms forming part of the unit itself without necessitating the use of outside sourcesof power.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved liquid heating system or unit of the fuel burning type, wherein the fuel supply is most eifectively controlled by simple mechanism which is actuated by the temperature of the liquid within the storage zone of the unit.

Another specific object of this invention is to provide a simple fuelv burning water heater adapted to utilize fluent fuels such as gas, and which besides conserving fuel is highly dependable in action.

A further specific object of my present invention is to provide a new and useful water heating system which requires minimum attention while insuring an abundant supply of hot water at all times.

Still another specific object of the invention is to provide improved valve actuating mechanism which is especially and advantageously applicable to a water heating system of the fuel burning type.

These and other specific objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description. I

A clear conception of a practical embodiment While this patented liquid heating of the present improvement, and of the mode of constructing and of operating a fuel burning water heating system built in accordance with the invention, may be had by referring to the drawing accompanying and forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate the same or similar parts in the various views.

Fig. l is a somewhat diagrammatic view of one of the improved fuel burning liquid heating systems, central vertical sections having been taken through the heater and through the liquid storage tank;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the main fuel control valve showin part of the improved actuating mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a similarly enlarged front elevation of the main fuel control valve showing more of the improved actuating mechanism;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged diagram of the fuel control valve showing the same fully opened by the upper thermostat associated with the liquid storage chamber;

Fig. 5 is a similar diagram of the fuel control valve showing the upper thermostat inactive and the lower thermostat in action as when closing the valve; and

Fig. -6* is another similar diagram showing the valve fully closed by the lower thermostat.

While the'invention has been shown and described herein by way of illustration, as being embodied in an automatic gas burning water heater wherein the main fuel supply is controlled by upper and lower thermostats associated with a water supply and storage tank, it is not my desire or intent to unnecessarily restrict the scope or utility of the improvement by virtue of this specific embodiment.

Referring to the drawing, the fuel burning water heating system shown therein, comprises in general a liquid storage tank 8 having a lower fresh or cold water inlet pipe 9 and an upper hot water outlet pipe I U and preferably being covered with a jacket llof insulation surrounding its storage chamber l2; a fuel burning heater [3 having a burner l4 adapted to be supplied with fluent fuel from a fuel supply line 15 past a shut-off valve l6 and an automatic control valve I7, and being provided with a liquid circulating and heating coil I8 having its lower and upper ends in open communication respectively with lower and upper portions of the storage chamber I2; upper and lower temperature responsive devices or thermostats I9, 20 respectively exposed to the medial and lowermost portions of the storage chamber l2; and mechanical actuating mechanism operatively connecting the thermostats 19, 20 with the main fuel control valve H.

The storage tank 8 is preferably of considerable capacity and relatively high, and the heater l3 may be of any conventional type of fuel burner and is preferably located closely adjacent to the tank 8. The cold water inlet pipe lllcommunicates with the storage chamber [2 beneath a spreader 2|, and the hot liquid outlet pipe I is preferably disposed within the insulating jacket II as shown. The heater I3 is provided with an exhaust gas stack 22, and this type of heater is ordinarily provided with a pilot light 23 which is connected to the fuel supply line [5 in advance of the shut-off valve l6.

As previously indicated, the upper temperature responsive device or thermostat I9 is associated with the medial portion of the storage chamber l2 considerably above the cold liquid inlet 9, while the lower temperature responsive device or thermostat 20 is associated with the bot-1 tom of the chamber I2; and these thermostats I9, 20 are of well known construction as shown and described in U. S. Patent No. 747,297, granted December 15, 1903. The upper thermostat [9 has an external end lever .24, and the lower thermostat 20 has an external end lever 25, these levers 24, 25 being adapted to revolve about the central longitudinal axes of the respective thermostats I9, 20 when they are subjected to varying temperatures within their corresponding upper and lower zones within the chamber [2. As viewed in Fig. 3, both of the levers 24, 25 are adapted to rotate in counter-clockwise directions when the corresponding thermostats I9, 20 are subjected to diminishing temperatures, while both levers 24, 25 will rotate in clockwise directions when the thermostats I9, 20 are subjected to rising or increasing temperatures.

The improved fuel control valve IT is shown in detail in Figs. 2 to 6 inclusive, and comprises an outer casing 25 having a plug valve member 21 oscillatable therein by means of an external stem 28, the casing being provided with a bracket 29 for suspending the valve if from the tank 8. A collar 30 is rigidly attached to the stem 28 intermediate its ends, and this collar 30 carries a pin 3| which is disposed parallel to but eccentrically of the stem 28. A lever 32 is freely rotatably suspended from the valve stem 28 on one side of the collar 39 and has a lug 33 which is cooperable with one side of one overhanging end of the pin 3i, and a similar lever 34 is likewise freely rotatably suspended from the valve stem 28 on the opposite side of the collar 30 and is provided with a lug 35 which is cooperable with the opposite side of the other overhanging end of the pin 3!. The swinging end of the lever 32 is connected to the swinging end of the upper thermostat lever 24 by means of a link 35, while the swinging end of the lever 34 is likewise connected to the swinging end of the lower thermostat lever by a similar link 31. In practice, it may be desirable to make the connections or links 35, 3'! adjustable in length in an obvious manner, and it is to be noted that the mechanism is such that either thermostat I9, 23 may actuate the fuel control valve member 21 independently of the other; and that when the pin 3| is swung to its extreme position toward the left as in Figs. 3 and 4, the valve port or passage 38 will be fully opened, whereas opposite extreme positioning of the pin 3| will result in closing of the valve passage 38, see Fig. 6.

During normal operation of the improved fuel burning liquid heating system, the inlet pipe 9 will be connected to a suitable source of fresh water supply, the warm Water outlet pipe III will be connected to one or more zones of hot water utilization, the shut-off valve IE will be open, and the pilot light 23 will be ignited. The thermostats IS, 20 should be adjusted to the temperature desired, and when warm water is withdrawn from the outlet pipe 10, cold water will obviously be.

admitted to the bottom of the chamber I2 through the inlet pipe 9. As the admitted cold water contacts the lower thermostat 20, it causes the lever 25 thereof to swing in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 3 to 6 inclusive, and to thereby swing the lug 35 to the extreme left away from the valve actuating pin 3|, but will not move the valve member 21. The admitted cold water will then continue to rise in the chamber l2 as the withdrawal of warm liquid from the pipe Ill continues; and when the cold water reaches the upper thermostat 19, it causes the lever 24 thereof to likewise swing in a counter-clockwise direction from the position of Fig. 3, thereby swinging the lug 33 to the left and moving the pin 3| so as to swing the valve member 21 with its port 38 in open communication with the fuel supply pipe 15, that is, to open the valve ll as shown in Fig. 4. I

As soon as the valve l! is thus opened, the heater I3 will function to circulate liquid from the chamber l2 through the pipe I8 and will raise the temperature of the water, and the valve II will remain open while the heater will continue to operate as long as hot liquid is being withdrawn through the outlet pipe [0. The heater I 3 need be of sufficient capacity only to heat the liquid to the desired temperature, and so that the liquid being heated plus the heated liquid already stored above the upper thermostat I9 will always provide an abundant supply of hot water; and as the water in contact with the thermostat [9 becomes heated, the lever 24 will swing in a clockwise direction and the corresponding lug 33 will move toward the right as shown in Fig. 5, thereby avoiding interference with the subsequent action of the lug 35. As the heating of the liquid continues, warm water will eventually reach the lowe thermostat 20, whereupon the lever 25 will be swung in a clockwise direction thereby moving the lug 35 toward the right as in Fig. 5 and shifting the valve member 21 into closed position, as shown in- Fig. 6. Since the heater i3 is of relatively small capacity, it should preferably be acting'at full capacity whenever it is functioning.

Subsequent or continued withdrawal of hot water through the outlet pipe ID, or prolonged delay in withdrawal of warm water resulting in gradual natural cooling of the liquid in the chamber l2 by radiation, will again cause the lower and upper thermostats 20, I!) to be successively subjected to cool liquid and will result in successive movements of the lugs 35., 34 of these two thermostatstoward the left, and consequent repetition of the heating cycle. It is to be noted, however, that the upper thermostat l9. functions only to open the fuel supply valve I! when the cold water reaches this thermostat, and that the lower thermostat 20 functions only to close the valve 11 when the warm liquid completely fills the chamber l2; and that these two temperature responsive devices operate independently of each other and without'in anymanner interfering with the normal operation of each other. If no hot water is needed for a prolonged period of time, the heater [3 may be shutoff by closing the valve IE, but if automatic operation at any time is still desired, the valve l6 may be left open and the lower thermostat 20 may be adjusted to function at higher temperatures. The location of the thermostats i9, 20 with the upper thermostat above the lower but still considerably beneath the upper outlet end of the chamber I2, is desirable so that an abundant supply of hot water will always remain above the thermostat l9 when the system is functioning normally; and these thermostats i9, 20 are the sole means for insuring normal automatic operation of the heating unit.

From the foregoing detailed description it will be apparent that the present invention provides an improved automatic fuel burning liquid heating system which is extremely simple and compact in construction and which is moreover highly eflicient and reliable in operation. The improved system does not depend upon any outside sources for its operation, and can be installed in the form of a simple compact unit which will continue to function as long as the fuel supply remains uninterrupted. The improved control valve mechanism besides being simple and compact, is also durable and embodies no complicatedparts which are apt to interfere with the normal operation of the valve, and the desired temperatures may be readily varied to suit conditions by merely making proper adjustments of the thermostats I9, 29. The simplicity of the mechanism permits manufacture and sale thereof at moderate cost, and also permits most efiicient operation of the improved systems at maximum efliciency and with minimum fuel consumption.

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit this invention to the exact details of construction or to the precise mode of use, herein shown and described, for various modifications within the scope of the claims may occur to persons skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. In combination, a vertically elongated liquid storage chamber having a lower liquid inlet and an upper liquid outlet, a fuel burning heater having a liquid circulating duct communicating with lower and upper portions of said chamber and also having a fuel supply line provided with a fuel control valve, an upper thermostat operable by cool liquid rising into the medial upper portion of said chamber to effect opening of said valve, a lower thermostat operable by warm liquid descending into the lower portion of said chamber to effect closing of said valve, and a mechanical motion transmitting connection interposed directly between each of said thermostats and said valve.

2. In combination, a vertically elongated liquid storage chamber having a lower liquid inlet and an upper liquid outlet, a fuel burning heater having a liquid circulating duct communicating with lower and upper portions of said chamber and also having a fuel supply line provided with a fuel control valve, an upper thermostat operable by cool liquid rising into the medial upper portion of said chamber and coacting with an abutment to effect opening of said valve, and a lower thermostat operable by warm liquid descending into the lowerportion of said chamber and coacting with anothe abutment to effect closing of said valve, said abutments being interchangeably cooperable with said valve to move the same in opposite directions.

3. In combination, a vertically elongated liquid storage chamber having a lower liquid inlet and an upper liquid outlet, a fuel burning heater having a liquid circulating duct communicating with lower and upper portions of said chamber RAY C. NEWHOUSE. 

